Another weekend of action and so Argentinos Abroad returns for a quick look over all those who caught the eye whilst plying their trades in various leagues around the globe. Any that you feel deserved a mention and are not here then feel free to leave a comment.

There is only one place to start after Mauro Icardi and Éver Banega both struck hat-tricks for Inter Milan in a sensational 7-1 win over Atalanta. Captain Icardi strengthened his claim for an Argentina call-up with a nine-minute treble in the first half before Banega got in on the act, completing his three with a free kick in the 68th minute.

Juventus extended their lead at the top of the table to eleven points after a controversial late win over AC Milan. Paulo Dybala kept his cool to slot home the winner from the penalty spot in the 97th minute after José Sosa had earlier been sent off the Milan.

In Serie A’s Monday evening fixture, Lazio edged Torino but Maxi López was on target for the visitors, heading home an equaliser before the home side ran out winners.
Maxi López gol for Torino in defeat to Lazio.

Sergio Agüero’s terrific form continued on Saturday with the Argentina international scoring his sixth goal in five matches to help Manchester City past Middlesbrough and into the FA Cup semi final.

The surprise in Spain was Lionel Messi’s Barcelona slumping to a 2-1 defeat against Deportivo La Coruña after their miraculous victory over Paris Saint-Germain in midweek. An off-night for the Argentina captain but a memorable won for Depor keeper Germán Lux.

On Friday evening, Pablo Piatti smashed in his ninth of the season from the penalty spot and it was decisive in Espanyol’s 4-3 win over Las Palmas. Former Instituto winger Mateo García scored the third for the visitors but it wasn’t enough.

In the Segunda, Pablo Caballero was on target again as Lugo drew 1-1 away to Mallorca and former Queens Park Rangers midfielder Alejandro Faurlín netted in Getafe’s 2-2 draw with Tenerife.

Emiliano Sala expertly tucked away his eighth Ligue 1 goal of the season to give Nantes an 89th minute winner away to Montpellier.

In Portugal, Benfica cruised to victory over Belenenses on Monday evening with Eduardo Salvio scoring the third with a wonderful long range effort.

Former Lanús youngster Gonzalo Zárate was on target for FC Vaduz in a 2-1 win against his former club, Grasshoppers in the Swiss Super League.

Sergio Araujo’s fine start to life in Greece continued with a brace for new club AEK Athens in a 3-0 win over PAOK Salónica.

Veteran striker Silvio González scored in Aris’ important win over Nea Salamis in the Cypriot relegation group match and in Malta, Maxi Velasco struck his fifth goal in three matches to help Valletta beat Pembroke 4-0.

The MLS season continued and Gerardo Martino’s Atlanta United side earned their first ever win in emphatic fashion with a 6-1 win away to fellow newcomers Minnesota while Ignacio Piatti did what he always seems to do and dazzled in Montreal Impact’s 2-2 draw with Seattle Sounders. The former San Lorenzo playmaker created the opener with a defence-splitting pass before doubling the lead with a solo effort. Sounders rallied late to snatch a point but it was still all about Nacho.

Maxi Moralez got off the mark for New York City FC with a goal in their 4-0 win over DC United.

In Ecuador, Matías Defederico scored his first for new club Universidad Católica with a thumping volley inside the opening minutes of the 3-0 win against Liga de Quito. The result sent Católica top after Delfín drew 1-1 with Independiente del Valle, Juan Pablo Segovia scoring in that one. Elsewhere, Juan Manuel Tevez was on target for Macará in a 1-0 win over El Nacional.

Federico Vázquez scored from the penalty spot in Estudiantes de Mérida’s defeat to Metropolitanos in Venezuela and in Bolivia there were goals for Antonio Rojano, in Real Potosí’s win over Universitario de Sucre and a César ‘Picante’ Pereyra brace as Blooming defeat Oriente Petrolero.

Independiente Medellín warmed up for their Copa Libertadores clash against River Plate with a 4-1 win over Deportivo Pasto, former Belgrano midfielder Hernán Hechalar notched the second.

Deportes Iquique kept pace with Colo Colo at the top of the table in Chile after a 2-0 win away to Palestino. Diego Torres tapped in the opener before Luis Bustamante doubled the lead with an effort from 25 yards that nestled in the top corner.

Martín Palermo’s Unión Española remain in third following a 3-0 win against Cobresal, Diego Churín wrapping up the points with a late penalty and they sit level on points with Everton who beat Deportes Temuco thanks to Maxi Ceratto’s fiercely struck opener. Pablo Calandria was also on target, tapping in for O’Higgins in a 2-0 win away to Huachipato.

In Brazil’s Campeonato Catarinense, Mariano Tripodi headed the opener in Metropolitano’s 2-2 draw with Atlético Tubarao and over in Paraguay, Guido Di Vanni was on target again with the only goal in Sportivo Luqueño’s win away to Deportivo Capiatá.

Finally in the Arabian Gulf League, Sebastián Sáez struck late for Emirates Club to deny Rodolfo Arruabarrena’s Al Wasl and in Malaysia, Gonzalo Cabrera scored in Johor Darul Ta’zim’s 4-0 win over UiTM in the FA Cup.